U.N. Report Says U.S.-Led Forces Mistreated Many Iraqis

GENEVA (AP) -- The U.N. human rights commission credited
the U.S.-led coalition Friday with ending years of
systematic violations by Saddam Hussein's regime but also
cited concerns about prisoner abuse by coalition forces.

A report by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
said the coalition's invasion of Iraq ``removed a
government that preyed on the Iraqi people and committed
shocking, systematic and criminal violations of human
rights.''

In particular, the commission noted Iraqis have greater
freedom of expression now than they did under Saddam's
regime.

But, the report added, ``after the occupation of Iraq by
coalition forces there have, sadly, been some violations of
human rights, committed by some coalition soldiers.''

The 45-page report referred specifically to the abuse of
Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib detention facility near
Baghdad. The publication of photographs showing U.S. guards
abusing and humiliating detainees at the prison erupted
into an international scandal in April.

Seven U.S. soldiers face military charges and the Defense
Department said it was investigating more than 40 cases of
possible misconduct against civilians in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

``Governmental leaders of the countries concerned have, at
the highest levels, condemned these violations and have
pledged to bring those responsible to justice and to uphold
the rule of law. It is imperative that this be done, with
accountability to the international community,'' the report
said.

Iraq's interim government, set to take over sovereignty on
June 30 from the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority,
must ensure Iraqis do not face abuses in the future, the
report said.

``The serious violations of human rights and humanitarian
law that have taken place must not be allowed to recur,''
it said. ``Preventive and protection systems must be put in
place.''

Acting U.N. human rights chief Bertrand Ramcharan ordered
the broad investigation in April, saying he was concerned
because Iraq has been unmonitored by the world body since
the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

The 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission scrutinized Iraq
for years when Saddam was in power, but the issue was
dropped after his ouster last year.

Human rights groups say monitoring is essential because
ordinary Iraqis are suffering in the conflict between
coalition forces and insurgents.

A U.N. team collected information from the coalition and
individual governments involved in the occupation,
including the United States and Britain. It also turned to
foreign aid groups and Iraqi U.N. employees.

But the team did not travel to the Iraq largely because of
security concerns, said Jose Diaz, Ramcharan's spokesman.

The United Nations withdrew its international staff from
Iraq after the bombing of its offices in Baghdad last
August. U.N. rights chief Sergio Vieira de Mello was among
those killed in the blast.

The commission also suggested the Iraqi government organize
a body similar to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation
Commission to gather testimony and document human rights
abuses and punishments under Saddam.